New Ulm weekly review., 1887-10-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. G., Oct. Z, 49,

aSulnStOn, ~. u, zOCC. I, 1901 !.
The Treasury Department is in a
quandary again over the surplus quest
ion and the buying Of bonds to relieve
business distress. Its reasons of relax
alton seem to be exceedingly spasmodic
and of short duration. The time of fl
ling the sinking fund expires on the 9Th
and what then to do is a most serious
question. It is two months yet before
Congress can give any relief, and how
to bridge the interim is very annoying
and perplexing. The Secretary has
had conference with the Wall Street
bankers, and returned just in season to
have short interview with the Presi-
dent before he left for the West. It is
said that the Secretary questions his
authority to 90 much further, though
the Wall Street sharks have no qualms
of consciense on that point so long as
they have bonds to sell at good round
price, but don't propose to tender them
very lively at the last bid of the Secre-
tary. The result of the interview with
the President is not known, but the pre-.
sumption is that no definite policy is
settled upon up to this writing, and
that telegraphic communication and
special messengers will have to be re-
lied on. This will sadly mar the pleas
ure of the Presidents trip, and of course
cause more or less delay and confusion,
and all for the want of some fixed. set
tled, and definite policy in regard to
our finances. All this uncertainty and
perplexing anxiety could have been
avoided by calling an extra session, and
making amends for the criminal neglect
Of the last Congress. If the admin
stration were alone the sufferers, we
could view the situation with some COM
placency, but where the entire people
are involved, such lack of forethought
seems most stupid.
Our democratic friends have talked
a good deal during the last thirty
months about Jeffersonian simplicity,
and applied it with wonderful dexterity
to the present administration. The fact
of history is this: Jefferson rode down
Pennsylvania Avenue on his nag, tied
it to a post near the capital, and unos-
tentatiously passed through the cere-
monis of his Inauguration. To-day
President Cleveland is careering through
the land in a 100000 train of cars,
bekoning for ovation and applause.
An eye half open can see the ridicul
BUSINESS of such an absurdity. A more
extravagant and proAigate subyersion
of official position was never before wit
messed in this country and. no wonder
that the labor reunions Of Milwaukee,
Chicago aud elsewhere, refuse to join
in the demonstrations Of welcome, and
characterize the proceedings.as smack.
ing too much Of the homage paid to
royalty in Europe No wonder there
is bitterness and heart burnings among
the laboring masses Of the country.
The Inter. State Commerce Commits.
sion, like all other Bureaus and Depart
ments OF. Government, is required to sub.
nit to Congress at the beginning of ev.
cry session, estimates for the coming
fiscal year. The law requires that these
estimates shall be inSthe hands of the
Secretary of the Treasury by the frs
Of October. Most of them generally
come in later. But the Inter State
Commerce Commission is on hand likt
sore thumb this year, and wants S3, 50(
for the Secretary and $159, 600 for 9th
er necessary expenses making a total o
S20O,00o. The present appropriation i
100000, and that was though at the tim,
to be extraVagant. But here in les
than eight months. a democratic reform
economical ADMINISTRATION, proposes il
actual report to Congress, to double tn
amount. Some inquisitive fellow Nigh
ask, what do we get in return? Tha
is a question, my dear sir, that is puzz
ling other than you and me, and it ma.
be a lcng time before satisfactory an
swer is given. The expense is all W
get now.
Sparks the Commissioner Of the Gen
eral Land Office is constantly in troubl
and he don't seem to learn anythin,
by experience. After thirty months 9
service. he is apparently as ignorant j
regard to his duties as Nicodemds wa
relative to the secoe bird. The Secre
ary Of the Interior Depar tment hs
frequently had occasion to reverse th
1 decisions Of the Commissioner so un
Justly rendered against the western Ian